Fastening means for metal panels



Ami] 20, 1943..

F. E. ALLEN 2,317,035

FASTENING MEANS FOR METAL PANELS Filed Dec. 16, 1940 n INVENTOR. W C:

' ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 20, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to means for fastening metal panels on the surface of a wall, and particularly to fastening means for the large enamelled sheet metal panels which are now extensively used for decorating building exteriors.

These panels are usually in the form of shallow pan-like members formed by bending the edges of a piece of sheet metal at right angles to form flanges, and then enamelling the panels and securing them to the surface of the wall. It is common practice in fastening panels of this type to use fastening means concealed by the panels themselves, and to fill in the small spaces between the panels with mastic or other cementitious material.

It is the object of the present invention to provide fastening means for metal panels of simple and inexpensive construction, which may be easily applied.

Another object of the invention is to provide such fastening means as to insure alignment of panels secured to a wall therewith, and to hold the panels snugly so as to prevent even slight movement thereof relative to the Wall.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of fastening means of this kind which are readily adaptable to walls having irregular surfaces, and which may be applied to said irregular surfaces in such manner that the panels supported by them will be held with their ex posed faces in perfect alignment.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent in the following specification, wherein detailed reference is made to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fastening device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in perspective, illustrating the construction of the panels with which the device of the present invention is used;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken through a wall and panels secured thereto by means of the device; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a different for of panel fastening means which may be used separately or in conjunction with the device shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the construction of the panels for which the fastening means of the present invention are intended is best illustrated in Fig. 2, wherein a panel is shown as having a front face I which is that portion exposed when the panel is secured to a wall, and

as having flanges II bent rearwardly from its marginal edges. The uppermost flange I I also has its inner edge bent upwardly to form a vertical flange I2, with which the fastening means cooperates. The bottom flange is provided with slots, as indicated at I3, and similar slots l4 are formed in the side flanges II.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the fastening member employed for securing the panels against a wall is shown as formed of a strip of metal bent to form a vertical back. portion I5, which has its upper end bent downwardly upon itself, as at I6, to form a part of double thickness through which a perforation I'I extends for reception of a screw by means of which the fastening member is secured against a wall where the panels are to be supported. At the lower edge of the portion I6 the metal strip is bent outwardly, as at I8, and then downwardly, as at I9, to form an offset, the downwardly bent portion I9 preferably inclining toward the back I5 to insure a tight fit with the portion of a panel inserted between the portions I5 and I9, as will hereinafter be described. The strip is then bent outwardly as at 20, and upwardly, as at 2I, the portions I9, 20 and 2I combining to form a hook upon which a panel may be hung. The upwardly bent portion 2| of this hook is provided with a tongue 22 which is cut and bent outwardly from the member 2I to form therewith a somewhat resilient wedge to insure a snug fit in the slot of a panel which is received 'by the hook-like portion of the fastening memsecuring the member with its back I5 against av wall indicated at 24. One panel indicated at Illa has its vertical flange I2 received between the portions I5 and I9 of the fastening device, thus swinging the hook-shaped portion thereof outwardly to a vertical position so that the resiliency of the metal of which the device is formed tends to maintain the panel lOa against even the slightest movement with respect to the wall. An upper panel 10b is disposed with the slot I3 in its lower flange over the upwardly extending portion 2I, and has been brought down over the wedge formed by the tongue 22 so that the wedge serves to prevent any movement between the lower edge of this panel and the wall. The spacing of the slots and flanges on the panels are uniform, and the fastening members are so designed that their front faces are perfectly flush when the upper flange of one panel is held against the back member l5 and the lower flange of the next adjacent panel is supported by the member 2| of its hook extending through its slot.

In many cases the wall upon which the panels are to be applied is not perfectly flat, and in case of a slight offset, as might be caused by a narrow board, such as indicated at 26 in the lower half of Fig. 3, the fastening member may be applied to the Wall in a manner insuring perfect alignment of the front faces of the panels. This is accomplished with the fastening member constructed in accordance with the present invention by the use of washers 21, or any suitable shims placed between the fastening member and the low portion of the wall, which will serve to support the fastening member in perfect alignment with the other fastening members, and thus present a perfectly flat surface on the front face of the panels.

While the fastening device of Fig. l is especially designed for use in combination with the vertical flange on one of the panels which it supports, the present invention is also applicable to fastening means for panels in which no such flange is employed. For example, the form of fastening means illustrated in Fig. l may be used in vertical joints formed by adjacent panels, and comprises a back member 28 perforated as at 29 for the reception of a screw and having an outwardly bent portion 30, the outer end of which is bent to the right and to the left, as indicated at 3| and 32 respectively, tongues 33 being punched from these oppositely bent Wings 3! and 321 to form Wedges engageable with the slots 14 in the side flanges of adjacent panels. This device, when used in a vertical position, may also be used for fastening the tops and bottoms of panels where the flange l2, illustrated in Fig. 2, is omitted.

By use of the fastening means of the present invention, the front faces of the panels are perfectly aligned through the construction of the fastening means itself, and every fastening is made secure by a wedging or clamping action. While certain features of the invention have been more or less specifically described for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that changes may be resorted to in details of construction and arrangement of the parts shown, all within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-- 1. In fastening means for metal panels having flanged edges with slots formed therein, a

member adapted to be secured against a wall, a portion extending therefrom to enter one of said slots, and a tongue bent from said portion to form a wedge in the slot.

2. In fastening means for metal panels having flanged edges with slots formed therein, a member adapted to be secured against a wall and having a portion bent back upon itself to form an area of double thickness, a part of said portion being offset to receive a flange on one of said panels.

3. In fastening means for metal panels having flanged edges with slots formed therein, a member adapted to be secured against a wall and having a portion bent back upon itself to form an area of double thickness, a part of said portion being offset to receive a flange on one of said'panels, and an extension on said portion forming a hook to enter a slot in a flange of an adjacent panel.

4. In fastening means for metal panels having flanged edges with slots formed therein, a member adapted to be secured against a wall, and having a portion bent back upon itself and offset to receive a vertical flange on one of said panels an extension on said portion bent to enter one of said slots and a tongue bent from said extension to effect a wedging thereof in the slot.

5. In fastening means for metal panels having flanged edges with slots formed therein, a member adapted to be secured against a wall, and having a portion bent back upon itself and offset to receive a vertical flange in one of said panels, and an extension on said portion forming a hook to enter a slot in a horizontal flange of an adjacent panel.

6. A fastening device for securing metal panels or the like to a wall comprising a member adapted to be secured against the wall and having a portion bent back upon itself and offset to receive a portion of a panel, said member being extended to form a hook engageablewith a portion of an adjacent panel.

7. A fastening device for securing metal panels or the like to a wall comprising a member formed of a single thickness of metal adapted to be secured against the wall and having a portion extending outwardly therefrom, the outer end of said portion being separated to form two members extending in opposite directions therefrom to enter slots in adjacent panels, said members having tongues pressed therefrom to bring them into wedged relationship with said slots.

FRANCIS E. ALLEN. 

